U of G Gets $4 Million for ‘Green Ag’ Technology

October 14, 2011 - Campus Bulletin

Canadian farmers and University of Guelph researchers will benefit from a cross-Canada partnership of government, industry and universities in green agriculture technologies announced on campus Thursday.

U of G scientists will receive nearly $4 million to study and develop tools to help farmers mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, said parliamentary secretary Pierre Lemieux. He made the announcement for federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.

“Canada’s agriculture industry plays a vital role in keeping our economy strong,” Lemieux said. “This research will lead to new tools and practices to help farmers protect the environment and grow their business.”

The funding will support two projects based in the Ontario Agricultural College’s School of Environmental Sciences.

Prof. Claudia Wagner-Riddle studies dairy livestock and crop production systems. By examining new and refined management practices and improved feeding strategies, she hopes to help farmers increase profits and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Those are also the goals of research by agroforestry professors Andy Gordon and Naresh Thevathasan, who study tree-based intercropping, or the use of trees on farms.

“These two projects will go a long way towards helping Canada develop important greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, benefiting farmers and reducing impacts on the environment,” said Kevin Hall, vice-president (research).

“Partnerships such as the two we are celebrating today are central to our mission of creating new knowledge and value for society. The University of Guelph has a long history of working with government and industry to translate research knowledge into new technologies, products and services.”